As they always have and always will, Texans of all ages, backgrounds, locations, and income levels are coming to each other’s aid after the horrible devastation wrought by Harvey in the Lone Star State.

People are reaching out to neighbors, friends, family and perfect strangers to get through this horrendous natural disaster.

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Check out these seven quotes about Texas, its people, and its culture, courtesy of GoodReads, that give the rest of the country hope, faith — and acres and acres of optimism in the face of challenge and hardship.

1.) “I have said that Texas is a state of mind, but I think it is more than that. It is a mystique closely approximating a religion. And this is true to the extent that people either passionately love Texas or passionately hate it and, as in other religions, few people dare to inspect it for fear of losing their bearings in mystery or paradox. But I think there will be little quarrel with my feeling that Texas is one thing. For all its enormous range of space, climate, and physical appearance, and for all the internal squabbles, contentions, and strivings, Texas has a tight cohesiveness perhaps stronger than any other section of America. Rich, poor, Panhandle, Gulf, city, country, Texas is the obsession, the proper study, and the passionate possession of all Texans.” ― John Steinbeck, “Travels with Charley: In Search of America”  

2.) “You can all go to hell; I will go to Texas.” ― David “Davy” Crockett

3.) “There’s a vastness here and I believe that the people who are born here breathe that vastness into their soul. They dream big dreams and think big thoughts, because there is nothing to hem them in.” — Conrad Hilton

Related: Stranded by Harvey, Saved by Social Media

4.) “I like it here in Austin. Anybody got a room?” — Keith Richards

5.) “Texas is where the modern conservative theory of budgeting — the belief that you should never raise taxes under any circumstances, that you can always balance the budget by cutting wasteful spending — has been implemented most completely. If the theory can’t make it there, it can’t make it anywhere.” — Paul Krugman

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6.) “When a lady accessorizes … here in Texas, she’s selecting caliber, not color.” — Ron Brackin

7.) “I didn’t drive 11 hours across the state of Texas to watch my cholesterol.” — Robb Walsh